Editor:
While it’s great to see Jeffrey Bird’s article about Humboldt disc golf (“Disc Golf,” Sept. 8), it paints a picture of drunken, sloppy disc golfers with wild dogs. This may be the case for some folks (“chunderhoads,” as they’re called), but we have a rich tradition of huge professional disc golf the author is clearly not familiar with. If he was familiar with the local DG scene, he would have mentioned the local nonprofit organization, Par Infinity Disc Golf Club.
Why is DG so popular in Humboldt? Because of Par Infinity and the past and present efforts Par Infinity has made on behalf of the local DG scene. Where did all the local courses come from? County or city efforts? No, Par Infinity and our members are responsible for every public and respectable private course in the county. Par Infinity provides insurance and actively manages many of the local courses, and is constantly lobbying on behalf of the local DG scene.
Par Infinity’s local tournaments (which are 25th annual this coming year) set the benchmark for all DG in the county, and attract some of the best players in the sport. One of our local courses is claimed by world champion Dave Feldberg to be his favorite course in the world, and we get to play it any day of the week (if you know where it is).
I am disturbed by Mr. Bird’s irresponsibly written article claiming DG has relaxed regulations or conduct, dogs are welcome on courses, and inebriation is OK. That may be his style and other chunderhoads like him, but his group is on the same course as golfers that are playing by the rules, sober and without shitting dogs running loose and disturbing the mind state it takes to shoot good DG. If you are that guy/goddess, clean it up. You are not gaining any skills, and are certainly not contributing anything positive to our local DG scene.
If you are looking to improve your game and want to help out, join Par Infinity ($10/year). With over 500 members, we are Humboldt disc golf.
Jim McIntosh, Arcata
This article appears in Giants of Nonprofit.
I guess I’m just another “chunderhoad” opposed to fascist disc golf elitism. The way you present Par Infinity makes your club sound like a good old-fashioned high school clique, vulgarity and put-downs included. Basically, anyone who doesn’t choose to play your sanctioned events becomes a knuckle-dragging heathen by default. Please understand that I have absolutely nothing against Par Infinty as an organization. Indeed, I appreciate everything they do to promote disc golf on the north coast.Yet I feel that the tone and intention of your letter does very little to truly and positively reflect the mission of your organization and it’s diverse and passionate membership. For me, disc golf is one of many hobbies to which I choose to dedicate a significant amount of my spare time. I do enjoy playing with my close friends and their pleasant pack of enthusiastic dogs. We’ve learned to disregard the distractions and rigid formalities in our daily games, and we continue to progress as skilled golfers and promote a positive, responsible, and respectful approach wherever we play. In your rebuttal, you make some rather rash and insulting assertions/assumptions about those of us who choose to play unaffiliated and independent disc golf (“DG”), while portraying Par Infinity members as consumate professionals and pious, teetotalling gentlemen/goddesses. Really? We’re all just people brought together by a shared appreciation of a wonderful game in a beautiful corner of the world. There’s no need to take sides and make irresponsible and offensive generalizations about us “chunderhoads” and all of our unrefined amatuerism. Jeff Bird’s article did not attack or belittle anyone. Instead it presented disc golf as a past-time that everyone, whether or not they choose to pay $10 a year and hang out with a certain crowd, has the right to play without unwarranted criticism. I definitely won’t be signing up for any work days or tournaments anytime soon, but anytime you’d like to join us in a competive round at the Curtain, it would be a pleasure to ease your mind and show you that we are not such a bunch of irreverent hacks. We really are decent.
If Jimmy Mac knew Jeff Bird before he read the article there wouldn’t have been any misunderstandings. It can be difficult to judge intentions based solely on one article, especially when it is written with touches of humor and perspective, but Jeff is one of the nicest guys around with nothing but good intentions of representing the sport. The drama is unfortunate especially since both of these guys are great dudes. Jimmy might have come off aggressive but he is a major representative for disc golf within the community, so he just wants DG to be seen in the right light. Hopefully all is well.
We all need to play the Heave this year. It’s the best one of the year, and Jimmy is responsible for almost all of it.
It seems strange to me the way that Jim chose to attack Jeff’s article from such a hypocritical standpoint. I will not venture to state the major hypocricy’s but they were apparent to those with intimate knowledge of the club. I have major respect for the club and what they do for the sport. Yet I fail to understand why it is neccesary to denigrate the efforts of others trying to support the sport because they failed to mention a club they are not a part of. I love par infinity for what they have done for me and Jeff bird is a great friend who does nothing but promote positivity in the sport of disc golf.